Diaspora and migrants in development

As of July 2015, the Working Group on Diaspora and Migrants in Development is coordinated by the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD UK), which is based in London, United Kingdom.

The Working Group on Diaspora and Migrants in development works on ensuring the engagement of diaspora and migrants as entrepreneurs, social investors, and policy advocates and partners in human development in particular in countries of origin and heritage.

The group builds on previous advocacy and agreements reached by civil society during past editions of the Global Forum for Migration and Development and reflected on civil society’s 5-Year 8-Point Action Plan. Find more information in their Core Members' list and Terms of Reference.

All civil society organizations working in the field of migration and diaspora or interested in the topic are welcome to join and participate in upcoming events or other activities.

Get in touch with the Working Group on Diaspora and Migrants in Development

Priorities 2016

• Strengthen and establish further transnational networks of diaspora and migrants across continents, linked to networks of civil society in countries of origin, to exchange knowledge, good practices, and work together  on advocacy messages and tools.
• Challenge negative stereotypes of diaspora and migrants through exposure of contributions with best practice examples and other stories, and through media outreach.
• Develop advocacy messages and tools for migrant and diaspora networks to work together with civil society to advocate for policies that enhance diaspora investment.
• Activities will include, but not limited to: 
  • Establish a ‘Global Diaspora Day 2016’ to showcase contributions of diaspora and migrants to development and to generate resources on their role in job creation, enterprise and investment, through articles, case-studies and multi-media material. Global Diaspora Day will also generate resources on anti-xenophobia initiatives.  
  • Develop and produce a thematic report on Diaspora and Migrant Investment and National Development – Building on the Nexus
  • Strengthen, expand and build the capacity of a working group on diaspora and migrants for development through thematic meetings and webinars
  • Carry out a priority survey to provide evidence-based guidance to future advocacy strategy under the theme diaspora and migrants in development

Activities 2014 - 2015

• Organized a webinar and published a report on Diaspora and Migrants as Entrepreneurs and Social Investors: Creating an Enabling Policy Framework
• Hosting a Working Group meeting and webinar on Migration,  Entrepreneurship and Development
• Published a Policy Report on ‘Diaspora and Migrant Entrepreneurs as Social and Economic Investors in Homeland Development – harnessing the bridging potential of migrant and diaspora entrepreneurs for transformative inclusive development’
• Published a Good Practice Note - Consolidating and Showcasing Diaspora Entrepreneurship for Development
• Organising thematic meetings and a webinar around advocacy strategies and papers